Billiard-table.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. JAUFROIID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-THIRD T0 EDWARD L. KEMPF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BILLIARD-TAB LE.

Application filed April 4, 1912. Serial No. 688,545.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, J OSEPI-I E. JAUrRoID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Billiard-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in billiard tables.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a convenient means, directly and inseparably associated with the table to be used for indicating the score of the game, to take the place of, and supplant the unsightly string of buttons usually suspended above the table, the arrangement of my invention involving a minimum number of parts, no mutilation of the usual table to which it is applied, increased effectiveness of the table in the play of billiards, and at the same time, maximum convenience and accuracy in the indication of the score.

Other and further objects of my invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a plan View of the billiard table, showing my means for counting the points, associated therewith; Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken away portion of the rail; Fig. 3 is a broken away section of the table taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2', showing the marker or pointer in position; and Fig. at is the marker, or index pointer, in perspective view.

In all of the views the same reference characters indicate similar parts.

5, indicates generally the billiard table; 6 the table bed; 7, the rail, around the table; and 8, is the cushion of the table. These parts are common to all billiard tables.

In billiard tables, as now usually constructed, around and in the top surfaces of the rail there are inlaid a series of ivory diamonds 9, at frequent and uniform intervals, as marking points to aid the player in judging distances and making angles with the balls.

My invention consists in dividing the side rails and preferably one end of the table, beginning at the head of the table, into a series of uniform divisions, preferably in multiples of ten between the diamonds, by suitably applying on the rail a series of lines Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 191 3.

indicative of units in scoring and to place indicating figures or other notations, within the diamonds. These lines not only cooperate with a marker hereafter referred to for scoring the game, but constitute a guide for the play of the game with much greater accuracy than is afforded by the diamonds alone, so that the change which I make in the table, besides affording an inexpensive and neat appearing element of an easily operated and accurate scoring apparatus, has the structural advantages not only of leaving intact the table to which it is applied and providing no part to be inserted or to project upwardly from the rail, but also of adding to the original effectiveness of the table for accurate calculation of the angles of shooting, my invention contemplating the attainment of a maximum number of beneficial results by an arrangement which requires a minimum number of parts all of most simple, durable, and otherwise advantageous character. The marker 10 may be moved along the rail, to any selected point to indicate the score of the game.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. -1 that each of the side rails is divided into eighty uniform divisions, in multiples of ten, and that each of the diamonds is provided with indicating figures in multiples of ten. The first diamond being number 10, the second one being number 20, and the third one number 30, and so on up to the center diamond in the foot of the table, where one hundred is indicated. Both of the sides of the table are indexed in the same manner so that a player counting on either side, indicates one hundred points, beginning at the head of the table and continuing moving the marker down the side rail until it reaches the hundred mark at the center of the foot of the table.

The index or pointer is arranged to make frictional contact with the edge of the rail 7, and to be confined closely to the outlines of the rail, possessing a projection at one side, provided by folded wings 11, by which the pointer may be moved along the rail from place to place and from time to time.

The pointers may be of various colors so as to be distinguishable, for instance, one may be red, another yellow, another green and so on, so that each player will at once know his pointer, and more than one pointer may be used on the same rail.

It is convenient to have two or more pointers, of the same color, so that the points of the game may be counted along the side of the rail, just as the points are counted in cribbage. One pointer being moved a series of points beyond the other to indicate the number of points made, at the last play by a given player.

The pointer may be made of thin spring steel, or phosphor bronze, with the sharp edges taken off, or rounded, so as not to scratch or injure the rail and it Will be of sufiicient resiliency to clasp the rail with enough strength to prevent its accidental movement.

After a player has advanced his pointer to the one hundred mark, he may then use another pointer and place it on the two hundred mark, at the head of the table, to indicate that two hundred points are being made as his pointer is again advanced along the, side of the table until three hundred points are being made then the pointer at the head of the table may be placed at the three hundred indication, and so on thus counting as high a number of points as desired.

I desire it to be understood that my invent-ion is not limited to the precise ar rangement shown, but may be varied to any degree within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. For scoring games played upon a billiard table having the usual inlaid diamonds arranged at regular intervals upon its rail, the'combination, with the table, of

indicia upon the diamonds indicating successive multiples, a series of lines on the rail between the diamonds dividing the space between the diamonds into regular spaces indicative of units, and a clip frictionally engaging the rail and slidable along the ra11 which carries said diamonds, indicia, and lines.

2. For scoring games played upon a billiard table having the usual inlaid diamonds arranged at intervals upon its rail, the combination, with the table, of indicia upon the diamonds starting wit-h ten on the first diamond of each side rail, and progressing with successive multiples of ten to the central diamond of the opposite end rail, said diamond marked to indicate one hundred,the diamonds on the end rail opposite said diamond which is marked fone hundred having indicia of successive multiples of one hundred, suitable markings upon the rails betweensaid diamonds which are marked with successive multiples of ten for indication of units between said multiples, said diamonds and rails so marked constituting two sets of scoring indices upon the table, and suitable clips for each said set of indices slidable along the rail to point to any marked diamond or any of the unit markings between diamonds constituting part of the respective set of scoring indices.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. JAUFROID.

In the presence of- Foinin BAIN, MARY F. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

